Local Educational Agency Grants

Program summaries and information on specific federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act grants allocated to provide services to individuals with disabilities.

The California Department of Education (CDE) receives funding
under three provisions of the federal Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act (IDEA). California's Legislature and Governor
provide the guidelines for these funds through the annual Budget
Act. General questions about federal funds should be directed
to the Special Education Division (SED), Administrative
Services Unit, by phone at 916-323-1323. Questions related to a specific grant program should be
directed to the program contact identified in the program summary.

Program information on specific federal IDEA grants allocated
to provide services to individuals with disabilities is described
below:

Local Assistance Entitlements (PCA 13379/Resource Code 3310)

IDEA, Part B, federal funds support the expense
of educating identified students with disabilities.

This grant is one portion of the federal subgrants to LEAs. The
subgrants are based on a three-part formula: a base amount, a
percentage of population, and a percentage of poverty. All Special
Education Local Plan Areas (SELPA)s receive a base amount of $323,428,031
statewide, divided by December 1999 pupil count. Of the funds
in excess of the base amount, 85 percent are allocated on the
basis of the relative number of children enrolled in public and
private elementary and secondary schools within each SELPA's jurisdiction,
and 15 percent on the basis of the relative number of children
living in poverty using free and reduced price meal participation
as the indicator of poverty. Adjustments to the base amount are
required if a new SELPA is created, if one or more SELPAs are
combined, or if SELPA geographical or administrative boundaries
change. Districts must account for these funds as expenditures
for pupils with an individualized education program (IEP) and
for the provisions of the special education and related services
required by students with disabilities in order to benefit from
a public education.

This grant is allocated for students five through twenty-one years
of age. Two other grants comprise of the total subgrants to LEAs:
1) State Institutions (13008) and 2) Preschool Local Entitlements
(13682).

Preschool Local Entitlements (PCA 13682/Resource Code 3320)

The federal Preschool Local Entitlement Instructional
Programs provides funding for special education and services to
children with disabilities for ages three-, four-, and five-year
old preschoolers. The funds available for this program come from
the federal Part B, IDEA [Section 611 subgrants, to LEAs]. For
the method of calculation, see Local Assistance Entitlements (13379).

State Institutions (PCA 13008/Resource Code 3400)

All SELPAs, including state agencies, are required to have approved
local plans. There is no separate funding for services provided
by state agencies because of the merger of federal funds for special
education students in state agencies from Public Law (PL) 89-313 (Chapter
I) with IDEA 20 United States Code (USC) § 1400 et seq., Part B. The merger
requires state agencies to have on file with the state educational
agency an application (a local plan) that meets the requirements
under Part B. The State Board of Education is authorized under Education
Code (EC) § 56100 to grant approvals of local plans. The
affected state agencies are the State Special Schools, Division of Juvenile Justice, and the Department of Developmental Services (DDS).
For the method of calculation, see Local Assistance Entitlements
(13379).

Alternate Dispute Resolution (PCA 13007/Resource Code 3395)

Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) grants are funded through
the IDEA, Part B. The CDE finds that the ADR process
is a desirable and effective practice that supports the positive
interaction and collaboration among parents and educators and
promotes in assisting parents and educational agencies in the implementation
of the use of conflict resolution throughout the state.

The CDE awards these grants to regional consortia that include
LEAs and county offices. Selected LEAs will train and implement
an ADR process in responding to and resolving local complaints
and concerns regarding the implementation of the IDEA, Part B
and relevant state laws. (Budget Act, Item 6110-161-0890,
Schedule 2, Provision 2)

Least Restrictive Environment Grant (PCA 13693/Resource Code 3386)

The State Performance Plan Facilitated Review Grants are specific to issues of Least Restrictive Environment (LRE). They are designed to assist local educational agencies (LEAs) to improve educational results and functional outcomes for all children with disabilities and to ensure that LEAs meet requirements specific to LRE.

Supporting Inclusive Practices Grant (PCA 13693/Resource Code 3386)

The Supporting Inclusive Practices Grants are specific to issues of inclusive practice. They are designed to assist LEAs to improve educational results and functional outcomes for all children with disabilities and to ensure that LEAs meet requirements specific to inclusion. In addition, the Supporting Inclusive Practices Grants support the renewal, revision, and/or development of policies, procedures, and practices to ensure that all students with disabilities are appropriately identified and receiving services in the inclusive settings.

State and federal laws mandate active parent participation in
securing special education services for children with disabilities.
Many families whose children are over the age of three may not
have access to the information, training, and support they need
in order to be effectively involved in their children's education.
The California State Legislature passed, and Governor Gray Davis
signed, Senate Bill 511, (Chapter 690, Statutes of 2001) as a remedy
to this situation, establishing Family Empowerment Centers to
provide families with information, training, and support.

The total 2014-15 grant amount of $2,644,000 is awarded to 14 private,
non-profit organizations. Each grantee receives a base amount
of $150,000, plus an additional amount based on their region's
total school enrollment.

The 14 Family Empowerment Centers provide services for families whose children
are from the ages of three to twenty-two years of age, serve families of children
with all disabilities, and prepare families to partner with professionals
in obtaining an appropriate education for children with disabilities.

The Family Empowerment Centers will offer parents and guardians of children and young
adults with disabilities access to accurate information, specialized
training, and peer-to-peer support in their communities. Through
these efforts, families will have a network to inform, support, and educate them to be full partners in their children's
education and development. By building strong networks of support
throughout their regions, the centers will help ensure that families
have support from the time their children are first identified
with disabilities through their transition to community life.
(Budget Act, Item 6110-161-0890, Schedule 5,
Provision 5)

Mental Health Average Daily Attendance (PCA 15197/Resource Code 3327)

The Mental Health Average Daily Attendance (ADA) grants are funded through Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Part B. Grant funds shall be available only for the purpose of providing educationally-related mental health services, including out-of-home residential services for emotionally disturbed students, required by an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) pursuant to the federal IDEA of 2004 (20 USC Sec. 1400 et seq.) and as described in Section 56363 of the Education Code (EC). For Fiscal Year 2014-15, the initial grant awards allocated to each Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA) are estimated apportionments calculated based on 2013-14 P-2 ADA. The CDE will amend the FY 2014-15 MH ADA grant awards based on current year P-2 ADA that will be available in summer 2015. (Budget Act (SB 852, Chapter 25, Statutes of 2014), Item 6110-161-0890, Schedule 2, Provision 6)

School Staff Development (PCA 13431/Resource Code 3345)

School Staff Development funds provide for local staff development
opportunities for those who work in infant and preschool programs.
The funds are disseminated on a pro-rata basis based on the prior
year December student count, ages three through five. The minimum grant
per SELPA is $1,000. The source of funds is the federal Preschool
Grant (IDEA, Part B, §
619).

In conjunction with the Child Development Division, funds are provided for special education and services to children with disabilities ages three through five in each of the eleven Superintendent regions throughout California. A team of trainers with expertise in Early Childhood, Special Education, and English Learners, provide training and technical assistance to state funded and special education preschool programs to promote best practices in the implementation of the Preschool Learning Foundations, emphasizing literacy and language, early mathematics, social-emotional development, and English language acquisition. This provides access for children with disabilities to regular preschool activities.

Preschool Desired Results Grants (PCA 14688/Resource Code 3316)

Funding is provided to four LEAs to support the activities of the State Performance Plan/Annual Performance Report related to Indicator 7, Preschool Assessment. The grantees assist the Desired Results access Project in completing studies, development work, training, and technical assistance.

Part C, Early Education Programs (PCA 23761/Resource Code 3385)

In 1986, the federal government enacted PL 99-457, which
authorized grants to states to plan and implement a comprehensive,
community-based interagency system of early education services
for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families.
The lead agency for Part C of IDEA is the DDS. State legislation
(The California Early Intervention Services Act - Government Code [GC] §s 95000 et. seq.) enabled California to participate in
the Part C program and created a statewide mandate for LEAs to
serve all infants and toddlers with solely low incidence disabilities.
It also required changes in procedures and services for all infants
served by LEAs. The CDE receives funds ($13,898,000) from the DDS for local
assistance through an interagency agreement to address the cost
impacts experienced by LEAs in implementing the new federal and
state requirements (Budget Act, Item 6110-161-0001, Schedule 3). The grants fund each SELPA based on
their specific cost impacts. Allocations are based on an Interagency
Agreement with the DDS and the CDE. The SED administers these
funds through formula grants:

Cost impacts are computed for SELPAs in four areas:

Number of additional children with low incidence conditions
to be served

Additional required services

Additional required procedures

Regional services and administration

SELPAs provide budget information and justification to the CDE;
SELPAs also submit one interim expenditure report and a final
expenditure report. Based on projected expenditures, and verification of the appropriateness
of projected costs, SELPA grant awards are amended.

These funds shall be available for the purposes of vocational
training and job placement for special education students through
Project WorkAbility I pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with §
56470) of Chapter 4.5 of Part 30 of the EC.
As a condition of receiving these funds, each LEA shall certify that the amount of nonfederal resources,
exclusive of funds received pursuant to this provision, devoted
to the provision of vocational education for special education
pupils shall be maintained at or above the level provided in the
1984-85 fiscal year. The State Superintendent of Public Instruction may waive this requirement for LEAs that demonstrate that the requirement would
impose a severe hardship.

Infant Discretionary Funds (PCA 24462/Resource Code 6515)

These funds are established in EC §
56427 for direct early education services for infants who have
disabilities. In the past, these funds were used to offset shortfalls
in the growth appropriation for infants. With the implementation
of the Part C, Early Education Programs, the CDE reserved those
funds to address unanticipated direct service impacts of transitioning
to the new Part C, Early Education Program.